Shackles of Honor (5 page)



“Good morning, my darling,” Cassidy’s mother greeted her, standing and kissing her lovingly on the cheek as Cassidy entered the morning room. Cassidy noted that her mother’s eyes were swollen and reddened and knew that she too had not slept during the night.

“Yes, Cass. Good morning,” her father mumbled, nodding at her. “How lovely you look in that yellow dress. It is truly one of my favorites.”

“Yes, Father. Paste a stem to her
,
and she would look just like a fresh, ripe little daffodil plucked from a new bride’s bouquet. Would you not agree?” Ellis’
s
voice still resounded with anger, but a scolding glare from his father gave him cause to sigh before taking his sister’s hand and kissing it in greeting. “Good morning, Cass.”

“There’s much to discuss, of course,” Cassidy’s father announced, not unexpectedly. “Much that you will both want to say. Many questions you have to ask. Many. Some that I may answer and some that I may not. But first, let us breakfast together calmly so that our stomachs will not upset.”

Ellis assisted Cassidy into her chair and then, seating himself, immediately said, “So where is our honored guest this fine spring morning?”

“Ellis,” his mother warned.

“Mason is out and about on his mount this morning. No doubt he had experienced enough of your and Cassidy’s version of Shea hospitality,” their father boomed.

“I see no reason to be hospitable toward him. He comes like a thief in the night to
—
” Ellis began.

“He does not approach as a thief, Ellis!” their mother exclaimed suddenly. Both Ellis and Cassidy were surprised by such an unprecedented outburst from their mother figure. “It has been seventeen years that he has prepared himself for this! It was, no doubt, like walking straight into a den of starving lions when he arrived yesterday, knowing what your estimation of him would be…what Cassidy’s reaction would be. A lesser man would not have done it. A lesser man would’ve refused this
—f
or his father does not threaten disinheritance or banishment. He is here because he is all that is honorable in a good man!” She paused, looking intently at Ellis. Then quietly she declared, “I hope that you would act so honorably were the situation reversed.”

“You know you have no consequence to doubt me, Mother,” Ellis growled defensively.

Cassidy shook her head in frustration. Why? Why was her father so silent in the matter? Never had she seen him take such a passive manner in any dealings. Especially something of such magnitude.

“You sit there, Mother, Father…expecting this of me. Ellis, though I cherish your defense of me, your brotherly chivalry…’tis I that must suffer through this.
’
Tis only I. How can any of you, though you be my beloved family
,
my most treasured belongings…how can you sit and argue over what only
I
must endure?” All eyes were on her sympathetically. She continued, “I am she who will leave the only home she has ever known to reside with complete strangers—live in odd, unfamiliar surroundings—wed a man who cares no more for me than the mud that collects on his boots! I’m the one who will endure his attention, bear his children.”

Her words caught in her throat as she and everyone else in the morning room heard the sharp closing of the door that led from the veranda to where they gathered. Cassidy felt the hair at the back of her neck prickle ominously as she turned to face none other than the very topic of their conversation.

“Good morning, Mason,” Cassidy’s father greeted.

“Sir,” Mason responded. “Milady. Ellis. Miss Shea,” he said, nodding his head at each one in turn. The discomfort hung thick in the air. Each member of the Shea family felt guilt at having been so obviously discovered discussing their houseguest. Likewise, Mason Carlisle’s pompous pride at having the upper hand in the situation was manifest in his countenance.

“Twelve,” he stated, taking a chair next to Ellis.

“Twelve?” Cylia repeated questioningly.

“Twelve children.” Mason reached forth
,
taking a muffin from its basket and buttering it generously before leaning back contentedly in his chair. “I, being the ogre that I am, expect no less than twelve children.”

No one said a word. Looking about her, Cassidy could see that no one, including herself, knew whether he w
ere
in earnest.

“You see, that way, Miss Shea…you can begin counting down the persecuting number of times that you will have to
endure
my horrid
attentions.
” Still everyone sat in silence as he quietly and very nonchalantly ate his muffin in two swift bites. “Still…if you can find it in your heart, Miss Shea…shall we say…if your abilities…no, no, no. Let us say
,
if your gifts…if one of your gifts of this life proves to be abundant fertility…then perhaps we will make it a round baker’s dozen. What say you to that?”

“Your manner is entirely insolent, sir!” Cassidy’s father growled, leaping to his feet.

Mason Carlisle rose from his chair and
,
leaning across the table, met him face
-
to
-face, glare
-
to
-
glare.
 
“
My
manner? Am I not to be considered a guest in your home? Yet I arrive at my first stomachable meal here only to find myself the despised topic of slanderous conversation. Your own son’s mirthful comments fly hither and yon through the air touching whatever ears they may, and you laugh, mirthful and delighted at his wit,” he growled.

“Your very words condemn you, sir! For you are a guest alone! Not a…” Calvert began.

“Not a member of the family,” Mason finished for him. Mason straightened himself and stood tall, proud
,
and looming. “Would you have my family treat your daughter as such? Would you send her into the lair of such resentful, hateful harpies as I now find myself?”

“No,” Calvert admitted defeatedly. “No. Nor would your good father and dear mother treat her as you’ve been treated here. You are right, my boy. You are right.”

Cassidy looked about her, at her mother’s moist
,
brimming eyes, her father’s humility, and even Ellis’
s
silent expressive admission that they had treated the young man badly indeed. And thus panic began to grip her. Had he won them over? Would she be the sole person left with enough sanity to see her situation for what it was?

“You must understand,
Carlisle
,” Ellis began. “It’s our protective nature that causes our understandable reaction to this…this revelation of life’s path for Cassidy.”

“Protective nature? Yes,” Mason mumbled
,
and something akin to sympathy passed briefly over his face. “It’s the same that I would feel were it my sister and not yours.”

Ellis nodded and put a strong hand of truce at the man’s shoulder. Mason took Ellis’
s
free hand and shook it firmly. “If we are to be brothers, then we must find common ground,” Ellis told him.

Cassidy was astonished. Horridly astonished!

“Ellis! How could you turn from me like this? I
—
”

“He turns not from you. Rather he endeavors to support you,” came Mason’s unwelcome explanation.

“Support me?” she nearly shrieked.

“Would it be easier for you to bear this decision that indeed you agreed to of free will…if your family were as angry and antagonistic as you are? Or will it ease better to have them comfort and understand you?”

“Do not assume to educate me, Mr. Carlisle, in matters of my family!” Cassidy argued.

“I mean to educate you in many venues, Miss Shea,” he said quietly.

Cassidy was horrified when Ellis allowed a quiet chuckle to escape his lungs.

“Ellis! Enough!” Cylia scolded sharply. “Please! Please, let us sit in a friendly manner to eat this morning. Let this be a new beginning
. W
e must find peace with each other,” she added in her most pleasant of voices.

Forsaken
, Cassidy thought.
Forsaken
. Her family would side with the enemy, so to speak. Forsaken. As she defeatedly sat back in her chair, her eyes met her father’s across the table. His own eyes were full of sorrow and stricken guilt. It was so deeply evident in his eyes that it frightened Cassidy. Somehow her father was at the center of her fate involving Mason Carlisle. Her soul recognized the certainty of it even though she did not understand how.

Forsaken
. The word echoed through her mind over and over.
Forsaken
. Even when Ellis and Mason left the table together, however awkwardly, to go for a midmorning ride over the main properties, the word screamed in her mind.
Forsaken
. Her father left the room without another word
,
and her mother kissed her lightly on the head and left her as well.



Forsaken
, she thought as she watched the ducks in the west pond. Carelessly they floated on the water’s surface, dipping beneath now and again to search for food. The breeze was brisk and fragrant
,
and yet,
Forsaken
, she thought as it blew through her hair. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, trying to find comfort from the sweetened sounds and smells of nature.

“I was only in jest, you realize.” His voice startled her, causing Cassidy to nearly lose her footing spinning about to face him. There he stood in all his masculine glory scowling down at her.

“Pardon?” she squeaked. It crossed her mind instantly that they were alone. No one about as chaperon or witness.

“About the twelve, rather thirteen, children. I was merely tweaking your temper,” he explained. But there was nothing mirthful in his manner now. She could not decide to believe him or not.

“Consider it well tweaked,” she nearly spat.

“Ten should be sufficient,” he stated.

“You’ll be lucky to have one born of me! And that only if you find me in some drunken stupor, oblivious to the world!”

“You make merry with spirits?” he asked mockingly.

“Never! So there before you lie your chances of my conceiving an heir of you!” Turning from him, she tossed her head angrily and began walking away.

“You mean to deny me my progeny completely? Is this to be my consequence of adhering to the wishes of my parents? Of trying to honor duty?” he shouted, reaching out and taking hold of her arm.

“Unhand me at once!” she demanded, breaking free of him and yet tingling entirely from his brief touch. Turning toward him, she mustered her courage and spoke. “I have known you less than one day…and yet you expect me to calmly stand here and discuss such intimate subjects as posterity with you? My entire world has been altered in these past hours! And before you make to remind me, which no doubt you will, I am quite aware that I assumed the responsibility of going forth with our parents’ wishes. Still, can you not be, in the very least, somewhat insightful to my feelings? My fears? My uncertainty?”

“Oh, how little you understand my insight, Miss Shea,” he grumbled. “I pity you. I do. Make no mistake about that course. It’s why I’ve told your father that I’ll stay on here at Terrill for a time in order that you may have more time to think on it. To prepare
,
as well as you can, for such changes. But you must understand me
.
I intend to fulfill this…this…obligation to our fathers. And yet I intend to have a wife in every term and posterity to my name. If you intend different…disclose the truth now before more damage results.”